Device for inserting protector blocks into protector block shells



June 18, 1957 A.

DEVICE FOR Filed April 2, 1956 L. VAN NEST El AL INSERTING PROTECTOR BLOCKS INTO PROTECTOR BLOCK SHELLS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VE/VTORS A. L VAN N537 M. WALLBERG 0 MAW-m:

A TTOR/VAV June 18, 1957 A. L. VAN NEST EIAL 2,795,842

DEVICE FOR INSERTING PROTECTOR CKS INTO PROTECTOR BLOCK SHELL Filed April 2, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I-l I E I4 In I1 7'1....A 4

FIG. 7

- l/VVt-WTORQ A. 1.. VAN/VEST M. WALLBERG ATTORMFY Unite Stts DEVICE FOR INSERTING PROTECTOR BLOCKS INTO PROTECTOR BLOCK SHELLS Application April 2, 1956, Serial No. 575,622

7 Claims. (Cl. 29-211) This invention relates to an assembling mechanism for placing one part within another, and more particularly to a device for inserting protector blocks into protector block shells.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism for placing one part within another.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for carefully inserting fragile articles into tubular parts.

A device illustrating certain features of the invention may include a holder for supporting a protector block shell and moving it to a predetermined position below an aligning tube which has a bore for guiding the protector block into the shell and which has a lateral open ing for movement of the protector block into the bore. A seat on the aligning tube coaxially aligns the shell with the bore as the aligning tube is moved down into engagement with the shell, and a chute guides a row of the protector blocks and locates the end one adjacent to and in alignment with the lateral opening in the tube and in the path of a transfer member which moves the protector block from the chute through the lateral opening into the bore of the aligning tube and yieldably holds it in position therein. A spring pressed plunger mounted on the aligning tube extends across the bore and through the lateral opening for engaging the protector block to yieldably press it against the transfer bar and prevent it from tilting as it is moved from the chute into the aligning tube, and after the protector block is positioned in the aligning tube, a rod therein is actuated to push a pro tector block from the tube into the protector block shell.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, in WhiCh- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the device for inserting the protector blocks into protector block shells;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the protector block and the protector block shell in spaced relation to each other;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View of the protector block inserted in the protector block shell;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view through the device taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional View of the device taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5 and showing parts of the device in one position; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of the device similar to Fig. 6 showing some of the parts in a different position.

The present device is designed to insert protector blocks 10 into protector block shells 12. (Fig. 3) to form components (Fig. 4) used in telephone apparatus for protecting the telephone lines from the heavy surges of current. The protector block 10 comprises a sleeve 14 of ceramic material in which a carbon block 15 is bonded and the shell 12 has a base 16 with a tubular portion 17 extending therefrom into which the protector block 10 atent O f 7 2,795,842 Patented June 18, 1957 is adapted to be inserted and pressed into engagement with a carbon block 18 which has previously been inserted in the shell 12.

The assembling device comprises a feed table which has a plurality of recesses or seats 26 for supporting the protector block shells 12 with the open end thereof extending upwardly above the upper face of the turret. The feed table 25 is rotatably mounted on a horizontal frame plate 28 and is indexed by suitable drive mechanism (not shown) to align successive recesses 26 and protector block shells 12 with an aligning member 30 at an assembling station. The aligning member 30 is in the form of a tube mounted for vertical reciprocation in a supporting block 31 secured to the frame plate 28, and the aligning member has a vertical bore 32 for receiving a protector block 10 therein and guiding it into the shell 12. At its lower end the aligning member 30 has a seat 34 for engaging the upper edge of the shell 18 to coaxially align it with the bore 32 as shown in Fig. 6. The aligning member 30 has a pair of horizontally disposed bosses 36 and 37 and has a horizontal laterally disposed opening 38 in the boss 36 through which a protector block 10 is moved into the bore 32.

With the aligning member 30 in its lower position as shown in Fig. 6 the lateral opening 38 is aligned with a lateral opening 40 of the horizontal portion of a hollow guide 41 which is mounted in the block 31 and forms a rectangular guideway 42 for guiding a row of protector blocks 10 therein. The guide 41 and guideway 42 curve upwardly as shown at 43 (Figs. 1 and 5) to form a gravity type feed for feeding a row of the protector blocks 10 into adjacent relation to the aligning member 28. The end protector block 10 is stopped by a member 45 in the supporting block 31 in alignment with the openings 38 and 4t? of the guide 41 and the aligning member 3i), respectively, is transferred from the guideway 42 through the openings 40 and 38 into the bore 32 of the guide member by a transfer bar 47 which is mounted for sliding horizontal movement in a slot 48 in the block 31. y

The bar 47 is stressed for movement to the right as viewed in Fig. 6 by a pair of springs 50 secured atone end to the bar and at the other end to the supporting block 31, and the bar '47 has a cam roller 51 engageable with a cam 5'2 which is'movable vertically for controlling the reciprocation of the bar 47 of the cam roller. As the bar 47 transfers the protector block 10 from the guideway 42 the protector block is engaged by the end of a plunger 55 which is slidably mounted in an aperture in the boss 37 and in a tubular member 57 secured thereto. The plunger 55 is urged to the left (Fig. 6) by a spring 53 in the tubular member 57 to yieldably press the protector block 10 against the end of the transfer bar 47 and prevent tilting of the protector block as it is being moved into the bore 32 of the aligning member 28; The

transfer bar 47 yieldably maintains the protector block 10 in the bore 38 against the wall thereof. I

A :pusher rod 60 is slidable in the bore 32 for pushing the protector block 10 from the aligning member 30 into the shell 12 and press it against the block 18 therein. The end of the pusher rod 60 engages the ceramic sleeve 14 of the protector block 10 and is recessed to provide clearance for the upper end portion of the carbon block 15. During the insertion of the protector block 10 into the shell 12 the rod 66 engages the endsof the transfer bar 47 and the plunger 55 and slides past them. After the protector block 10 has been inserted in the shell 12 the transfer bar 47 is retracted, the rod 60 and the aligning member30 are raised, and the turret 25 is indexed to position the following shell 12 in the assembling station.

Any suitablemechanism may be provided for actuating the aligning member 30; the rod 60, and the transfer bar 47 in timed relation to each other and to the indexing of the turret. As shown herein the rod 60 is connected through a pin and slot connection to one end of a lever 62 which is pivotally connected at its other end to a bracket 63 secured to the block 31. The lever 62 is connected at an intermediate portion of the lever through a pin and slot connection to a rod 64 which is slidable in a sleeve 65 which is slidably mounted in an aperture in the supporting block 31. At its lower end the push rod 64 is pivotally connected to a link 68 which is pivotally connected to a lever 69. This lever is pivotally supported on a fixed bracket 70 and has a cam roller 71 engaging a cam 72 which is mounted on a shaft 73 driven in timed relation to the indexing of the turret 25. The rod 64 is urged downwardly by a spring 75, one end of which is connected to a bracket 76 and the other end of which is connected to a collar 77 fixed to the rod 64.

The upper end of the sleeve 65 and the upper end of the aligning member 30 are secured to a plate 80 and the sleeve 65 is raised to its upper position (Fig. 2) by engagement of the lower end thereof with the collar 77 on the rod 64 in response to upward movement of the rod. A spring 81 connected at one end to the sleeve 65 and the other end to the bracket 76 serves to pull the sleeve 65 and the aligning member 30 downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 6 with the seat 34 of the aligning member 30 in engagement with the shell 12 in response to downward movement of the rod 64. The plate 80 is stopped in its lower position by stop screws 82 mounted on block 31. The vertically reciprocable cam 52 for-controlling the horizontal reciprocation of the transfer bar 47 is secured to a vertical rod 85 which is mounted for reciprocation in lugs 86 on the block 31 and is pivotally connected to a link 88. The link 88 is pivotally connected to a lever 89 which is oscillatably supported at one end in a bracket 90 and has a cam roller 91 on its other end which engages a cam 92 on the shaft 73 for actuating the lever 89 and the cam 52. The cams 52, 72, 92 are shaped to effect the actuation of the various components of the mechanism in a predetermined timed relation to each other.

Thus, during each cycle of operation of the device the turret 25 is indexed to place a shell 12 in the assembling station, the aligning member 30 is moved from the upper position as shown in Fig. 2 to a lower position in engagement with the shell 12 as shown in Fig. 6 to align the shell with the bore 32 in the aligning member and the pusher rod 60 into an intermediate position, after which the transfer bar 47 is actuated to move the endmost protector block from the guideway 42 into the bore 32 of the aligning member during which movement the plunger 55 engages the protector block to yieldably hold it against the end of the transfer bar to prevent it from tilting during its transfer movement, and after the protector block 10 has been moved into the bore 32, the pusher rod 60 is actuated to push the protector block 10 from the aligning member into the shell 12. The transfer bar 47 is then retracted and the aligning member 30 and the pusher rod 60 are raised to their upper position as shown in Fig. 2.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of this invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for inserting articles into tubular parts, means for supporting a tubular part at a predetermined station, an aligning member at said station having a guideway for guiding an article into the tubular part and having a lateral opening for movement of the article laterally into the guideway, means for guiding an article to and supporting it in a predetermined position adjacent to and in alignment with the lateral opening of the aligning member, means for moving the article from said guide means through said lateral opening into the guideway of the aligning member and for yieldably holding it therein, and means for moving the article from the aligning member into the tubular part.

2. In a device for inserting articles into tubular parts, a holder for supporting a tubular part a member having a guideway for guiding an article into the tubular part and having a lateral opening for movement of the article into the guideway, means for supporting the holder and the member for movement relative to each other into a predetermined position adjacent to each other with said guideway in alignment with the tubular part, guide means for guiding a row of the articles and positioning the end article in a predetermined position adjacent to and in alignment with the lateral opening in said member, a transfer element mounted for reciprocable movement in alignment with said end article, yieldable means for actuating said transfer element to move the end article from the guide means into the guideway of the member and yieldably retain it therein, and means for pushing the article from the guideway of said member into the tubular part.

3. In a device for inserting articles into tubular parts, a holder for supporting a tubular part, a member having a guideway for guiding an article into the tubular part and having a lateral opening for movement of the article into the guideway, means for supporting the holder and the member for movement relative to each other into a predetermined position adjacent to each other with said guideway in alignment with the tubular part, guide means mounted on the supporting means for guiding a row of articles and positioning the end article in a predetermined position adjacent to and in alignment with the lateral opening in said member, a transfer element mounted for reciprocable movement on said supporting means in align ment with said end article, yieldable means for actuating said transfer element to move the end article from the guide means into the guideway of the member and yieldably retain it therein, a plunger mounted on the member in alignment with said transfer element, resilient means for moving the plunger across the guideway and through the lateral opening for engaging the article being moved into the guideway to yieldably press the article against the transfer element to prevent it from tilting as it is moved into the guideway of said member, and means for pushing the article from the guideway of said member into the tubular part.

4. In a device for inserting articles into tubular parts, a holder forsupporting a tubular part, an aligning memher having a guideway for guliding an article into the tubular part and having a lateral opening for movement of the article into the guideway, means for supporting the holder and the aligning member for movement relative to each other into a predetermined position adjacent to each other and with the member in engagement with the tubular part, means on said member for aligning the tubular part with the guideway, guide means mounted on the supporting means for guiding a row of articles and positioning the end article in a predetermined position adjacent to and in alignment with the lateral opening in said aligning member, a transfer element mounted for reciprocable movement on said supporting means in alignment with said end article, yieldable means for actuating said transfer element for moving the article from the guide means into the aperture of the aligning member and for yieldably retaining it therein, a plunger mounted on the aligning member in alignment with said transfer element, resilient means for moving the plunger across the guideway and through the lateral opening for engaging an article being moved into the guideway to yieldably press the article against the transfer element to prevent it from tilting as it is moved into the guideway of said aligning member, and means for pushing the article from the member into the tubular part.

5. In a device for inserting articles into tubular parts, a holder for supporting a tubular part, an aligning member having a bore for guiding an article into the tubular part and having a lateral opening for movement of the article into the bore, means for moving the aligning member relative to the holder into engagement with the article therein, means on said aligning member for aligning the tubular member with said bore, means for positioning an article adjacent to and in alignment With the lateral opening in said aligning member, a transfer element mounted on said supporting means for moving the article from said positioning means into the bore of said aligning member and yieldably retaining it therein, yieldable means for actuating said transfer element in timed relation to said aligning member, a spring pressed plunger mounted on said aligning member for movement across the bore and through the lateral opening for engaging an article being moved into the bore of the aligning member to yieldably press the article against the transfer element to prevent the article from tilting as it is moved into the aligning member, a pusher slidably mounted in the bore of the aligning member for pushing the article therefrom into the tubular part, and means for actuating said pusher in timed relation to said aligning member.

6. In a device for inserting articles into tubular parts, a holder for supporting a tubular part, an aligning member having a bore for guiding an article into the tubular part and having a lateral opening for movement of the article into the bore, means mounting the aligning member for reciprocable movement relative to the holder into engagement with the article therein, said aligning member having a seat for aligning the tubular member With said bore, means for actuating said aligning member, means for feeding a row of the articles and positioning the end article adjacent to and in alignment with the lateral opening in said aligning member, a transfer element mounted on said supporting means for moving the article in one direction from said positioning means into the bore in said aligning member, resilient means for moving the transfer bar in said one direction, means for actuating said transfer member in the opposite direction and controlling the movement thereof in said one direction, a spring pressed plunger mounted on said aligning member for movement across the bore and through the lateral opening for engaging an article being moved into the bore of the aligning member to yieldably press the article against the transfer element to prevent it from tilting as it is moved into the aligning member, a pusher slidably mounted in the bore of the aligning member for pushing the article therefrom into the tubular part, and means for actuating said pusher.

7. in an assembling device, a carrier for intermittently advancing successive tubular parts to an assembling station, an aligning member at said assembling station having a bore for guiding an article into the tubular part and having a lateral opening for movement of the article into the here, means for supporting the aligning member for reciprocable movement relative to the carrier into engagement with the article therein, said aligning member having a seat for aligning the tubular member with said bore, means for actuating the aligning member in timed relation to the carrier, gravity feed means mounted on said supporting means for feeding a row of the articles and positioning the end article adjacent to and in alignment with the lateral opening in said aligning member when said aligning member is in engagement with said tubular part, a transfer element mounted on said supporting means for moving the article in one direction from said gravity feed means into the bore in said aligning member, resilient means for moving the transfer element in said one direction, means for actuating said transfer member in the opposite direction and controlling the movement thereof in said one direction in timed relation to said carrier, a plunger mounted on said aligning member in alignment with the transfer element, resilient means for moving the plunger across the bore and through the lateral opening for engaging an article being moved into the bore of the aligning member to yieldably press the article against the transfer element to prevent it from tilting as it is being moved into the aligning member, a pusher slidably mounted into the bore of the aligning member for pushing the article therefrom into the tubular part, and means for actuating said pusher in timed relation to the carrier.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

